Qi Huairen did not respond to the lawsuit, nor did he hire a lawyer. Even when he heard that Richard's team had contacted Qi Huairen, Qi Huairen ignored them.
Obviously, Qi Huairen was indignant and even more frustrated.
As a result, the 40th defendant was tried in absentia.
Although it was the same case as the previous thirty-nine defendants, the jury was a single jury.
But when lawyers Moxon and Han Annie from the Montenegro Law Group accused Qi Huairen, no one defended him.
Therefore, with the help of the accusation of dereliction of duty against Qi Huairen, the atrocities committed by Ma Quanyou's troops were presented in court one by one and clearly displayed in front of the jury.
…
The private room of Gaoji Teahouse.
Sitting opposite Lu Ming was Richard.
It was Richard who took the initiative to invite Lu Ming to have tea.
"Fighting a lawsuit in Northern Xinjiang is completely different from my previous experience!" Richard had a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. "Your master is even more powerful here. He thinks he has won now, right? But tell him that I still have a trump card. If he doesn't come, you will definitely lose!"
Lu Ming sipped his tea slowly. "Mr. Richard, I think you are bluffing. You are just worried. You don't want to lose to us little guys, right?"
"Really?" Richard smiled meaningfully, "Then we can continue."
Lu Ming sighed softly, "Actually, I envy you for being able to do what you want."
Richard was slightly startled and looked at Lu Ming. "I don't understand what you mean. You people in the Northern Territory are very complicated. I don't know why Mr. Qi was listed as the defendant and why he was absent from the trial. We took the initiative to negotiate for an agent, but he didn't even need one. It's really weird! I also don't understand why the judges here have so many standards and tendencies that are sometimes one way and sometimes that! Everything here is so weird!"
Lu Ming sipped his tea slowly without saying a word.
Richard stood up, walked slowly to the window, and stared out blankly, not knowing what he was thinking.
"So, he didn't come!" Lu Ming said leisurely, "He still hopes to be your opponent in the court of Donghai or the imperial capital."
"Maybe I came to the wrong place..." Richard turned around and asked, "How many days will it take for you to present the witnesses and testimonies?"
"About ten days..." Lu Ming coughed.
Richard frowned slightly. "You are despicable. Now I can only watch you influence the jury, and you continue to instill your views into them day after day. For more than half a month, my people can't do anything! This is a ridiculous trial process. Do you admit it?!"
Lu Ming looked up at him and said, "From the perspective of the plaintiff and the defendant's lawyer, you may say so. But shouldn't the atrocities committed by Ma Quanyou's troops be exposed? Shouldn't they be severely punished? Ask yourself, don't you feel guilty for defending them?"
Richard shook his head slightly: "I am just fulfilling my duty as a defense lawyer."
"They are all excuses, Lawyer Richard. You are not as noble as you think. This is not an ordinary criminal case, but a brutal atrocity committed against an armed force. You also understand this, so you don't want to fight us for evidence, and you keep using the special characteristics of the army to circumvent the essence of this case. When you want to apply for an annulment of this trial, it proves that you are just doing whatever it takes to win."
Richard said calmly, "You and your master have exactly the same tone. In fact, he and I are the same kind of people."
Lu Ming waved his hand: "I don't think he will take this lawsuit. In fact, the reason you took the lawsuit is just because you imagined that your opponent was him, right?"
Richard walked back slowly. "Now you think you have the upper hand and can say whatever you want, but this case is still a long way from being over. I hope you can have the last laugh."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "I think everything will be over soon. In the Northern Frontier Court of Appeal, it is actually very difficult for the losing party to get a retrial opportunity. If you don't believe me, we'll just wait and see."
"It seems that we have a big disagreement, especially your arrogant attitude. I don't like it. You are just a puppet. I don't want to talk to you. It's my fault to invite you to tea." Richard turned and walked out. "I'm leaving. I will pay for my own tea. Please pay for your share as well!"
Lu Ming burst out laughing. After being in the Northern Territory for a long time, he suddenly found Richard's personality very cute. They didn't get along well and he didn't even bother to offer him a cup of tea.
Richard lifted the door curtain and walked out, and suddenly he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
Lu Ming was startled, then quickly stood up and walked out.
But Richard was lying at the bottom of the stairs with his hands on his chest. Granny Tuolong was squatting beside him taking his pulse. When she saw Lu Ming coming out, Granny Tuolong shook her head slightly.
Amid the exclamations of the tea drinkers, some timid ones paid their bills and slipped away, while others, bold ones, gathered around to watch the fun.
Lu Ming walked down slowly and looked at Richard lying on the ground with black blood gradually oozing from the corner of his mouth. His mind was buzzing for a moment and he forgot what to do.
…
The two patrolmen who were taking the statement left.
Lu Ming sat in the study in a daze.
Richard is dead, and even now it seems like a dream.
He has always been his rival, and even Richard, who is not a very good person, has always done everything he can to win the lawsuit.
But, just die like that
A giant who is extremely oppressive in the courtroom and difficult to shake, and one of the most prestigious top lawyers in the empire.
A prominent figure who attracts countless lawyers and a giant in the judicial world.
In a lawless place, he fell so easily. No matter how strong a professional he was, his life was fragile and could not withstand the small blade in the mouth of a little gangster.
Richard died of poisoning, but it was no different from being stabbed in the throat by a gangster's razor blade.
Those who die are so humble and so absurd.
I don't even want to know who the real murderer is.
I feel empty inside and have no energy to do anything.
It was as if what was killed was not Richard, but the many principles that he had always believed in.
This lawsuit now seems so ridiculous.
It is true that all it takes is a small blade in the mouth of a little gangster to change everything in the trial, but you and others have worked so hard and have set your sights on something higher than the sky. Isn't it ridiculous to think about it
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Han Anni and Xue Zihan came in.
Han Annie handed Lu Ming a piece of paper, "Sent from Granny Long..." Looking at Lu Ming, there was some worry in her eyes.
Lu Ming opened it and saw Richard's autopsy results on the paper. He was most likely killed by a chemical poison, but Beining was not technically able to find out what the poison was. The provincial capital in Northern Xinjiang might not be able to do that either. Richard's legal team was planning to freeze the body and transport it back to the capital.
But no matter what, Richard was not poisoned by drinking the tea from Gaoji Teahouse, because he also drank that tea, and Granny Tuolong was watching him the whole time.
However, it was obvious that many people thought that he had poisoned him, especially Richard's favorite disciple, Lyde.
He rushed to the teahouse upon hearing the news and broke down on the spot. He pointed at himself and cursed, saying that he was a murderer and had killed his master.
Thinking of this, Lu Ming sighed softly.
Glancing at Lu Ming's expression, Han Annie whispered, "Don't worry about the lawsuit. Judge Zhu Zhenglong has no intention of postponing the trial. We will continue to schedule the trial as originally planned. First, we are currently presenting witnesses and evidence, and we expect to present more than a dozen more trials. Second, Judge Zhu Zhenglong believes that the Richard Law Firm's legal team is very strong and the lead attorney can be easily replaced. During the time we are presenting evidence, Richard Law Firm is fully capable of finding a suitable lead attorney."
Lu Ming nodded, and then said in a gloomy tone: "What does all this matter?"
Han Anni and Xue Zihan looked at each other, with deep worry in their eyes.